April 1, 1946 – June 17, 2014 Julia Wood Cummins, of Sadler, Texas, entered into eternal life on Tuesday, June 17, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born April 1, 1946, in Sherman, Texas, to Betty (Spalding) and Luther Wood.
Julia lived her first eleven years in Sadler where she attended elementary school. Her family moved to Denton, Texas, in 1957, and Julia graduated from Denton High School in 1964. She formed many lasting friendships with her fellow classmates. She completed her education at North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas) in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Her concentration of study was English.
Julia began her teaching career at Robert T. Hill Junior High School in Dallas, Texas, and taught there for six years before moving back to Grayson County. In 1980 Julia was hired by the Gunter School district to teach English. At Gunter she had the unique experience of teaching the same students beginning in the seventh grade and continuing with them through their senior year. Consequently, she formed a life-long bond with those students.
After teaching in Gunter for eight years, Julia taught in the S&S school district until her retirement in 2000. After her retirement, she worked as a sales representative for several publishing companies and enjoyed traveling to numerous school districts where she presented textbooks that were up for adoption and trained teachers in the new technology accompanying their resources.
In 1983 Julia married Robert “Bob” Cummins. Together they owned and operated Hilltop Farms near Sadler and were breeders of Brahmousin, a mix of Limousin and Brahman cattle. Some of Julia’s happiest times were when she and Bob traveled to livestock shows and fairs to show their prized cattle.
In addition to her husband, Julia is survived by her mother, Betty Wood, of Sherman. She is also survived by her loving children and grandchildren, all of whom she adored. They include her daughter, Shelly Bitros, of Dallas; son, John Bitros, of Whitesboro and his wife, Carrie, and their daughters, Clara Ellen age four, and Nora Belle, who is expected in mid July. In addition she is survived by her sister, Valerie Freels, and her husband, Sandy, of Denison and her brother, Don Wood, and his wife, Cynthia, of Whitesboro. Julia also leaves behind a step-son, Jeffrey Cummins, his wife Anna, and sons Garrett, Slade, and Diego of Georgetown, Texas; step-daughter, Shannon Cummins Feathers, and daughters Jordan, Lauren, and Chloe of Cypress, California; nephews Trey Freels of Frisco, Andrew Freels of St. Louis, Daniel Wood of McKinney and niece Diana Wood of Dallas. She was preceded in death by her father, Luther Wood.
Julia loved her extended family and stayed close to her uncle, Jack Spalding of Ft. Worth, and her aunts Marie Spalding, Ann Curry, Tommie Sue Spalding, all of Sherman, Laura Beth Siebman of Sadler, and Mary Wood of Whitesboro.
In 2003 Julia’s love for family and history was recorded in Nora’s Children, a book which she co-wrote with her sister. A true labor of love, this book documented her family’s arrival in Grayson County in 1879 and continued to present day with stories of six generations of family who settled and lived in the Sadler area.
Julia was a member of First United Methodist Church of Whitesboro and served on the Sadler and Southmayd school board from 2002-2007. She served four years as president of the West Grayson County Retired School Personnel, as well as other offices within the club. Additionally, she was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Whitesboro History Club, and the board of the Sadler Volunteer Fire Department.
As per her wishes Julia was cremated, and a celebration of her life will be Saturday, June 21st at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Whitesboro with the Reverend Ken Hildebrand officiating. Family visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Meador Funeral Home.
To honor their beloved teacher, Julia’s former students created the Julia Cummins Scholarship Fund in her memory. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the scholarship fund in care of Landmark Bank, P.O. Box 760, Gunter, Texas 75058 or the charity of your choice.